GIZ and ThyssenKrupp Nucera Launch H2Uppp in India
Germany's development agency GIZ and electrolyser manufacturer ThyssenKrupp Nucera launched the H2Uppp program at India Energy Week -- a blueprint for how major OEMs plan to enter India's hydrogen market.
Germany's development agency GIZ and ThyssenKrupp Nucera launched the H2Uppp program in India on January 29, 2026, at India Energy Week in Goa. The initiative aims to accelerate green hydrogen production across Indian industrial clusters.
The OEM Market Entry Pattern
ThyssenKrupp Nucera is one of the world's largest alkaline electrolyser manufacturers. The H2Uppp model follows a pattern likely to be replicated by other OEMs:
- Partner with development agencies (GIZ, JICA, ADB) for market access and government relations
- Build capacity programmes to train Indian teams on their technology
- Position as the scaling solution for India's hydrogen challenges
- Lock in supply relationships before competitors recognize the opportunity
GIZ handles government relations and regulatory navigation. ThyssenKrupp provides technology and manufacturing expertise. Together they reduce adoption friction for Indian producers.
India Market Context
ThyssenKrupp Nucera already holds a leading position in India's chlor-alkali market, providing a foundation for expanding into green hydrogen electrolysis. Their industrial presence gives them direct access to the PSU ecosystem (NTPC, IOCL, BPCL, GAIL) that just received direct budget allocations in the Union Budget 2026.
The Certification Layer
Electrolyser OEMs sell hardware. Their customers need GHCI compliance. That creates a natural partnership opportunity: OEMs deploy electrolysers, and certification platforms handle GHCI documentation and multi-framework tracking.
The H2Uppp programme also works with state-level government contacts and Ministry officials on energy policy — exactly the stakeholders who need to understand what certification infrastructure looks like at scale.
The Broader Trend
Expect similar market entry programmes from Siemens (Germany), Nel (Norway), and Plug Power (US). The H2Uppp model works because it combines technology transfer with government access. The companies embedded in these programmes early — as infrastructure partners, not hardware competitors — capture the certification layer for every OEM deployment.
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